The Spirit of Christmas will be alive and well among local theatre groups this weekend, from a new Akron-centric production to various takes on a time-honored Charles Dickens classic.
Rubber City Theatre will open “A Christmas Carol” Friday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., from the organization’s Black Box at Fort Romig (2207 Romig Road). The Dec. 1 production is a “Pay-As-You-Like-It” performance, wherein the audience is encouraged to “pay as they like it,” or donate what they can after the show.
The production stays true to the Charles Dickens novel and follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he journeys through the past, present, and future when the Spirits of Christmas give him the opportunity to redeem himself. This version is co-adapted by Rubber City Theatre’s Dane CT Leasure and Casey Robinson and was presented for the first time last year.
“A Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 23. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances begin at 2:30 p.m. There will also be Saturday matinee performances on Dec. 9, 16, and 23 at 2:30 p.m. All performances are located at 2207 Romig Road.
Tickets begin at $16 for adults and $14 for seniors and students. They may be purchased by phone at (234) 252-0272, online at rubbercitytheatre.com/tickets, or at the door within one hour of show time. Students with valid school or university ID may also take advantage of $5 student rush tickets (at the door only, subject to availability). In addition, audience members age 18 and under may attend Youth Rush on Thursday or Sunday performances for free (available at the door only, subject to availability, under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult). Flex Passes and group pricing are also available.
Christmas in Akron
Also on Friday, Dec. 1, Coach House Theatre will celebrate the debut of “Christmas In Akron, the Musical!,” a new musical by Rob Loos, Jarrod Radnich and Craig Knudsen. Part backstage musical and part Christmas celebration, the show focuses on Diane Diamond, the head copywriter at O’Toole’s Department Store (a pseudonym for the former O’Neil’s store) in downtown Akron, who is scheduled to direct the O’Toole’s Annual Christmas Spectacular with the help of some friends.
They have 48 hours to launch a production, which becomes a frenetic race to find the “talent,” get the show up on its feet and celebrate the holiday season, while trying to avoid the store’s VP, the bitter Irene Richardson, who wants to shut the whole thing down.
The production debuts Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m, at Coach House Theatre, 732 W. Exchange St., and runs through Sunday, Dec. 24.
Tickets to the Dec. 1 premiere are $40. Regular admission is $20, and student tickets are $10. For group sales (10 or larger), call (330) 434-7741 or email [email protected]. For individual tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/profile/2875163.
A Christmas Carol musical
Weathervane Playhouse’s “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” is now playing through December 23 and is the season’s second production in the group’s Emerging Artist Series, featuring a multi-generational cast of performers.
Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. ― except for Saturday, Dec. 23, which is at 2:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. The daytime performances of Dec. 5 and 13 are currently sold out. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for children and may be ordered by calling the box office at (330) 836-2626 or going to www.weathervaneplayhouse.com. This production is sponsored by a donation from The Weathervane Playhouse Volunteer Guild.
